Trundle was Swansea's top scorer in all his four seasons at the club

"I was very surprised and really disappointed at the news," said ex-wing Curtis, 53, who has been involved with Swansea in various roles for 36 years.

"He's been such an iconic figure since arriving that it's hard to imagine a Swansea side without Lee Trundle.

"The young fans will be broken-hearted, but the club will bounce back, it always remains to survive and thrive."

606: DEBATE Trundle's record is very good no doubt about that AG

Trundle, whose �1m move is expected to be completed on Monday, was given special permission to play for Bristol City in Saturday's 2-2 friendly draw with Yeovil, where he scored one and helped create another.

The 30-year-old Liverpudlian scored 86 goals in 178 games in all competitions for the Swans, and was the club's top scorer with over 20 goals in all four of his seasons at Swansea.

Despite the impressive fugures and Swansea's sorrow at having to sell their iconic marksman, Colin Addison said that there are positives from the deal.

"From the playing perspective, it's a massive loss to Swansea City and its supporters, and I like him as a person and player," the former Swans manager told BBC Sport Wales.

"But �1m for someone the wrong side of 30 is excellent news from the club's point of view."

Lee's so charismatic that he brought a new dimension Alan Curtis

Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins and manager Roberto Martinez have said that the money was unimportant, though, and that they would have broken the bank to keep Trundle, a view supported by Curtis.

"Lee's been the biggest personality at Swansea for so long, he's so charismatic that he brought a new dimension here, he's as big as anyone who has ever been at the club," the former Wales international told BBC Sport.

"But above that he has terrific ability, he's been the top scorer for the last four years and just a fantastic acquisition.

"He wants to play at the highest level he can, he's 31 this year and maybe he feels the time is right for a move to the Championship."

The Swans say that the Trundle money will be made available for squad strengthening with rumours that the club could move for West Brom's John Hartson, a Swansea fan who has always expressed his desire to end his career at the club.

"Swansea is a really good club right now, there's lots of money there and I'm sure that the Trundle cash will be made available to Martinez to strengthen the squad," said Curtis

"Somebody is going to have to step in to Lee's boots and the speculation that keeps coming up is Hartson.

Signing Hartson would placate the fans, but you'd have to ask Roberto if it would fit the style of play he wants Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins

"I don't know what his situation is at West Brom, but I'm sure he's somebody who could score goals at this level and it may be a route that the club wants to pursue."

Chairman Jenkins did not rule out a move for the Wales international, but said that the decision was down to Martinez.

"Signing Hartson would placate the fans, but you'd have to ask Roberto if it would fit the style of play he wants, Roberto's the man to make that call," said Jenkins.

Hartson seems unlikely to be Martinez's choice, with Aston Villa's England Under-21 international striker Luke Moore a more probable target.